Butte College football team receives rings for title, practicing to get another

Butte Valley >> The Butte College football team received its rings on Thursday for winning both the 2013 state title and a share of the national championship.

The Roadrunners then went out and spent the afternoon working toward even more hardware.

Butte, possessing a number of returners ready for another run and numerous newcomers hungry for what the veterans received Thursday, is in the midst of spring football. The Roadrunners have been practicing four days a week, and this is their third week with one more to go.

While spring football is by definition — and rule — light on contact with players merely in jerseys without pads or helmets, the Roadrunners shuttled between organized stations for different drills.

They weren't lacking in energy thanks to the rewards handed out earlier.

"My first ring ever so I am pretty excited about it and hopefully we can get another one," left tackle Dominique Harris said. "This is great motivation for next year. We're not just settling for one. We want two and go back-to-back."

While it's been several months since the season came to an end Dec. 14 with a 28-13 victory over Fullerton in the state championship, those players didn't miss out on the spoils of victory.

"Word spread pretty quickly that they had arrived," Butte coach Jeff Jordan said, adding the rings could boost the newcomers' mindset even more. "I don't think it's going to hurt. I think they want to be a part of something special like last year."

Jordan, nominated for the Chico Sportsperson of the Year after directing the Roadrunners to a record-setting season, has liked what he has seen so far. He highlighted an experienced group of offensive linemen returning, led by Harris, a 6-foot-4, 275-pounder from Flint, Mich., who said he has offers from Colorado State, Marshall, Toledo and University of Texas-San Antonio.

Jacob Vazquez, a West Valley High grad in Cottonwood, is set at left guard, and Kevin Camy from Visalia figures to be at right tackle, giving the Roadrunners plenty of choices to run behind.

They'll be paving the way for running back Kendall Williams, an all-state selection last year who was thrilled with his ring.

"A lot of hard work went into all of this," said Williams, a 6-0, 215-pounder from New Orleans. "A very special day today."

Jordan, though, like the players still suiting up for Butte, are already prepping for the next season.

"We've lost a lot of depth on the back end of our defense so that's probably my biggest concern," Jordan said, ticking off the names of departed standouts Wes McCoy, Denzel Conyers, Deonte Flemings, Chris Edwards and Ryan Holland. "We have a couple of guys in here who have potential, but right now it's still potential."

But Jordan noted some players in the defensive front seven, including defensive tackle Mark Rosenquist, who is from Stockholm, Sweden.

"I think we've got a lot of great athletes out here for sure, smart ballplayers," said sophomore Booker (6-1, 220).

One of the new additions to the team is former UC Berkeley quarterback Zach Kline, who left Cal and tweeted his intentions to play for Butte in late April. Kline's arrival further deepens the depth chart that included a quartet of area products — Tom Hays (Paradise High), Eric Ascencio (Pleasant Valley), and two from Chico High in Peter Wysong and Daniel Robbins. Kline will be a sophomore for the upcoming season as he will vie with those others to replace departed Thomas Stuart who moved on to Boise State after a standout campaign last season.

Butte's top spring goal, though, began before the Roadrunners even set out for the practice field.

"We've changed our bodies. We've made huge progressions in the weight room. We're establishing the speed that we want to practice," Jordan said.

With one week left, Jordan has been pleased with the progress.

"I've been liking our work ethic. I think we're starting to pick up the offense and defenses, especially with some of the new guys, and I think maybe we're ahead of the game as far as scheme stuff goes," Jordan said. "My coaches are really coaching hard. We're just setting the tone how it's going to be in August."